Body support



Dec. 10, 1940. R DAVIS 2,224,339 I BODY SUPPORT Filed Oct. 8, 1.938

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BYM

A TTORNEY S.

Patented Dec. 10, 1940 UNITED TES arer orrica 3 Claims.

In my former patent, No. 1,880,860, granted on October 4, 1932, I have shown a means where-- by a mattress may be positioned properly in a coffin.

The present invention aims to provide a novel means whereby the legs of the mattress frame may be adjusted vertically, without difficulty, and be held in vertically adjusted positions.

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to which the present invention appertains.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 shows in top plan, a device constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation on an enlarged scale, parts being broken away;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an elevation showing the opposite side of the structure from that depicted in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing the parts of the grip as they will appear when the leg may be adjusted vertically.

In carrying out the invention, there is provided a frame I, made of tubular stock, and including parallel side arms 2 connected by an end piece 3. Near their free extremities, the side arms 2 are joined together, for strength, by a transverse brace 4.

The frame is adapted to be seated within the side and end portions of a mattress M and is provided in its sides at desired points with openings 5, there being similar openings located as desired in the end of the frame.

For the purpose of supporting the frame I, a plurality of legs 6 are used, one leg being extended through each opening and each leg being provided at its lower end with a foot 1 while a head 8 is removably mounted on the other end of the leg for the purpose of holding it assembled with the frame.

Each leg carries a frame supporting plate 9 having an opening H] in which the leg is situated, and extending upwardly from plate 9 and outside of the frame I and mattress M is an arm ll provided, near its upper end, with a transverse slot l2.

A gripping jaw Iii in the form of a fiat plate, is located above the supporting plate 9 and has an opening it substantially alined with opening Iii. Leg 6 extends through this opening as shown and from one end of the jaw I3 is extended a tongue 15 having an upwardly extended finger piece It at its free end. This finger piece and its tongue are insertible outwardly through slot 12 so as to provide a loose hinge connection between jaw l3 and arm H.

It is to be understood that the finger piece IE, tongue 15 and arm H are located outside of the mattress but close to the frame. The weight of the mattress and its frame is supported by the plates 9 on the respective legs and this weight, being transmitted 'to tongue l5 through arm ll serves to maintain jaw l3 slightly tilted so that opposed portions of the wall of opening l4 will frictionally engage the leg and hold jaw l3 against downward sliding movement. Plate 9 will at the same time be suspended from the tongue on the jaw so that accidental downward displacement of the mattress will be prevented. It will be noted that the finger piece I6 is lo-- cated Where it will be reached readily from above the mattress. Thus adjustments can be efiected readily.

After a mattress has been equipped with the improvements herein described, it can be lowered into the cofiin. By providing the legs 6 with suction cups for feet as shown in the draw ings, they will be caused to adhere to the bottom of the coffin although it is to be understood that the use of suction cups is not essential always.

To adjust the mattress upwardly after it has been positioned as explained, it is merely necessary to raise it and this will cause the jaws I3 to swing downwardly about their loose hinge connections so that the said jaws, as well as the plates 9, can slide upwardly readily along the legs. When the mattress has been brought to the proper position on the legs it can be lowered at any of its points of support simply by pressing the finger piece It: toward the upper end of arm -I i so as to swing jaw l3 out of gripping engagement with theleg. The location of the finger piece beyond the side or end of the mattress in an upwardly extending position is important because of the convenience with which it can be reached for the purpose of effecting downward adjustments.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with a cofi'm mattress and a frame therein having an aperture, a leg slidable within the aperture, means slidable on the leg for supporting the frame, means slidable on the leg above the frame and tiltable into gripping engagement with the leg, and means for connecting the first mentioned means with the tiltable means.

2. A body support for use in a coffin comprising a frame having an aperture therein, a supporting leg slidably disposed in the aperture,

means sildable on the leg for supporting the frame, means slidable on the leg above the frame and tiltable into gripping engagement with the leg, and means for connecting the first mentioned means with the tiltable means whereby the tiltable means anchors the first mentioned means to said leg.

3. A body support for use in a coffin comprising a frame having a plurality of apertures therein, a supporting leg slidably disposed in each of the apertures, means slidable on each of the legs for supporting the frame, means slidable on each of the legs above the frame and tiltable into gripping engagement with a leg, and means for connecting the first mentioned means with the tiltable means whereby the tiltable means serves as a hanger for the first mentioned means.

RALPH BERNARD DAVIS. 

